Page 43 of Sometimes You Stay

“Really?” His dad cocked his head to the side. “Mike said you gave him a hand with a repair on his boat and he offered to help you put it up.”

Finn responded with a hard shake of his head. “Nah. I’m not there yet. And I’m doing just fine on my own.”

“Of course you are.” His mom pointed toward the living room. “Come on, let’s sit down.” She helped her husband into the recliner, and as soon as he sat, the lines around his mouth eased and his shoulders relaxed.

Finn plopped onto the couch, motioning for Cretia to sittoo. Maybe he could get his parents curious about her so they’d forget about his questionable professional skills and quit shooting furtive glances at his desk.

Cretia didn’t seem inclined to play along as she shuffled toward the door. “I’m going to just head...” She pointed toward the back door.

“Stay,” his mom commanded. She was a few inches shorter than Cretia, but she wrapped an arm around her waist and propelled the younger woman toward the couch, nearly depositing her right beside him before perching on the arm of the recliner. “Tell us about yourself.”

Thank you, Mom.

Cretia’s wide eyes said she wasn’t quite so pleased with the situation. Hovering on the edge of the sofa cushion, hands folded between her knees, she gave them a quick smile. “There’s not much to say.”

“That’s not true. Cretia travels around the world for her job.”

His mom scooted forward. “Well, that’s exciting. What do you do?”

Cretia’s glare at him said she did not appreciate having to explain her career to more people who probably wouldn’t understand it. But as long as they were focused on her, he didn’t have to worry about his parents asking more questions of him.

Eleven

The next few days after Finn’s parents’ visit ambled by, with Cretia often reaching for her phone, only to be slapped with a fresh reminder that she was still completely disconnected from her work and her life and making plans for both of those things. Her only distractions seemed to be socializing the Fab Four and arriving at the farm just in time to feed Sonny and Cher.

And seeing Finn.

She didn’t mind seeing him every day, even though he still sported the black eye that reminded her of her misstep.

The days weren’t filled with exciting adventures or major expeditions, but there was a quiet peace to this pace of life. A simple joy to the familiarity of Joe Jr.’s boisterous welcome each time she stopped by, and his warmth by her side when she sat in the grass to play with the puppies.

Her first day in North Rustico, she’d thought that if any place could persuade her to stay, it might be this gentle hamlet on the island’s north shore. The longer she stayed, the truer she knew that to be. There was something tempting about the gentle breeze and warm sunshine as she strolled towardFinn’s house this morning. It held a promise she could almost identify, a hope she could almost put into words. Almost.

Yet as soon as she let the idea sneak in, her lungs seized, and she stumbled on the gravel along the side of the road.

Shuffling into the grass of the shallow ditch, she pressed her hands to her waist, lifted her face, and took several deep breaths.

“I’m not going to stay here,” she whispered to the fluffy cloud swimming across the sky.

But you could.

Finn’s face flashed in her mind. His smile. The little dimple in his chin. The crinkles around his eyes when he found something particularly funny. The feeling of her hand encased in his—solid, dependable.

Maybe there could be something real between them. Maybe there were reasons to stick around and explore the could be.

She wouldn’t, though. For reasons just as valid. That wasn’t her future. She wouldn’t settle down somewhere and buy a house and fill it with stuff. She wouldn’t pour every last penny into junk she didn’t need or things she quickly tired of.

She would not become her mother.

Or any version of her.

Suddenly Cretia couldn’t see Finn. Not right then anyway. She needed a minute, just a breath to collect herself. Or she’d be tempted again.

At the moment she wasn’t sure she was stronger than his pull. Worse, the silly man probably had no idea what he did to her.

It was probably better that way.

She sucked in a deep breath through her nose, thenreleased it as she spun a slow circle. Finn’s house was only a few dozen yards down the road, his truck parked out front. Between the birds calling to one another, she could almost hear Joe and the puppies playing beyond the barn.

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